Omicron Delta Kappa
About
Overview
Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) places emphasis upon the development of the whole person, both as a present member of the college community and as a prospective contributor to a better society. The society believes that while good scholarship and intellectual development are the chief objectives of the college years, the life of the mind is not the only life students will have to cope with as the result of their college experience. There are also important lessons and personal qualities, which one learns and develops through an integrated program of academic and extracurricular education. The founders of ODK formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in a worthwhile endeavor, and that outstanding students, faculty, and administration members should meet on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness.
Mission Statement
As Georgia Tech's premier leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa strives to recognize and develop leadership excellence, foster communication, and share resources through the collaboration of our Circle with the Georgia Tech community as it acts as a catalyst for positive change on campus using its members’ collective experiences and perspectives.
Primary Events & Initiatives
Internal
- ODK Opinions
- Deek Duos
- ODK Socials
External Events
- Talks@Tech [Public Event]
- Ramble In [Campus-wide, Semiannual Event]
- Freshmen Leadership Awards [For Recipients]
ODK × Georgia Tech’s Motto of Progress & Service
- ODK promotes progress by conversing with faculty, staff, and administrators to enact change on campus and provide the students’ perspective on campus issues
- ODK serves the community by convening campus leaders to ask questions and discuss these issues and possible solutions in our ODK Opinions. ODK also creates a welcoming environment for students upon their first day of classes at Tech through our name-tag welcoming event, Ramble In. Finally, ODK serves by supporting campus leaders in their ideas, initiatives, founding organizations, and spreading the word to different spheres of campus.
Member Impact Anecdotes
"I first interacted with ODK by attending the ODK Leadership Conference when I was a first-year student. The theme that year was Professional Leadership and featured talks and workshops led by industry leaders; it was attended by students at all stages of their college experience. From then onwards, ODK has been a pivotal part of my development both as a student leader and in preparing me to enter the workforce. Through joining ODK, I met students from across campus and learned the value of reaching out to others who were more knowledgeable in order to progress a project. This skill transferred to my time interning with Airbus where I regularly had to seek out advice from colleagues in other teams, who I might not know well, and explain why their guidance was necessary to complete a project and why it was important to them.
I am about to join a full-time engineering development program that is designed to identify and prepare the next generation of top technical talent. My time with ODK prepared me not only to earn a place on this program but also to hopefully embrace all the opportunities for development alongside all the challenges that will come my way."
~ Emily Hale, AE, Class of 2020
"While part of ODK, talking to GT staff and faculty members has helped me to understand the perspectives of administration when it comes to addressing campus issues. For example, as the ODK Secretary 2019-2020, I helped organize Dean McLaughlin’s Talks@Tech and his ODK Opinion on mental health. His insights on the issue showed me that the administration cares deeply and that they are constantly working towards resolutions, but the solution is far from easy. I personally did not understand how challenging or prevalent an issue mental health was on campus until Dean McLaughlin talked about the toxic culture of "shared pain" we cultivate at GT. Hearing his viewpoint and the stories of other members of ODK reminded me that we all live very complex lives and that I should listen more carefully to others when they discuss their own mental health. ODK has been an integral part of my Tech experience and has shaped who I am today."
~ Michael Xiao, CS, Class of 2020
If you are interested in joining our Honors Circle, the application cycle for the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 academic year has opened! The Alpha Eta Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa is committed to leadership and service at Georgia Tech, and our members have the opportunity to connect with other student leaders across Georgia Tech's campus as well as leaders in the Atlanta area. The application window is from October 8th to October 28th, and the application link is below.